CSU Ventures’ impact: 49 startups, 1,381 patent applications

FORT COLLINS — CSU Ventures, Colorado State University’s technology-transfer division, on Wednesday reported its accomplishments on the occasion of its 10th anniversary.

Led by president Todd Headley, CSU Ventures has worked with students and researchers to file 1,381 patent applications, sign 369 license agreements, establish 1,064 inventions and launch 49 startup companies. CSU Ventures has generated almost $19 million in licensing income over the last decade, according to a CSU statement. During the 10-year span, it has grown from four to 11 full-time employees.

From 2011 to 2015, startup companies from CSU employed 1,200 people and raised more than $150 million in funding.

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“We’re licensing a lot of technology within Colorado, and impacting society as part of our mission,” Headley said in the statement.

In the last year, CSU Ventures launched five startups, including the award-winning SiVEC Biotechnologies, founded by CSU research scientist Lyndsey Linke. SiVEC is developing an antiviral technology to prevent the transmission of avian influenza.

Headley’s team also spun out The Fairs App, a company founded by Jeremy Podany, executive director of Career and Support Services at CSU, and Chris White, a CSU Web and mobile developer. The mobile app is used for job fairs. Universities including Cornell, Indiana, Michigan State, Oklahoma State and UC Santa Barbara are putting it to use.

Terry Opgenorth is among those who have joined CSU Ventures during the last decade. Previously, he spent 20 years in the drug-discovery department at Abbott Laboratories. Opgenorth works with CSU startups, and he is a co-founder of and chief scientific officer for VetDC, which is developing cancer therapeutics for dogs and cats. Opgenorth also leads NewCo Launchpad, a framework for CSU Ventures’ support of startups.

CSU Ventures partners with high-tech incubator Innosphere in Fort Collins, Innovation Center of the Rockies in Boulder, Rockies Venture Club in Denver and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and Internal Trade.